Latrobe City Council has endorsed a list of advocacy projects which will help inform the 2026/27 Federal Budget Submission and the 2026 Delegation to Canberra.
The list is the first progressed component of the Advocacy Framework endorsed by Council in October and includes:
• Advanced Air Mobility
• Economic Support Package
• Enabling Infrastructure Fund
• Traralgon Flood Recovery Project - Glenview Park Pavilion
• Inter-Township Trail Network
• Moe Revitalisation Project
• Traralgon Bypass.
While the list addresses projects in time to develop the Federal Budget Submission, Council officers are working to complete the full prioritisation stage of the Framework, with a final Advocacy Platform to be presented to Council in early 2026 ahead of the Victorian State Government Election.
Council's 2026/27 Federal Budget Submission puts forward a coordinated, execution-ready investment package that delivers immediate stimulus and long-term structural economic benefits.
Key priorities in Council's submission include further investment in the Latrobe Aerospace Technology Precinct, positioning Latrobe City as a national leader in Advanced Air Mobility research, testing and innovation.
Separately, Council is calling for the establishment of a Latrobe Region Economic Support Package to de-risk private investment, attract new industries, create jobs and build sovereign supply chain capability across priority sectors. These initiatives would be supported by an Infrastructure Activation Fund to unlock industrial and residential land, enable the upfront delivery of essential services, accelerate business investment, and support population and workforce growth.
Latrobe City is Australia's most structurally affected regional economy, facing the closure of coal-fired power generation, and requires targeted national investment to secure its economic future. The package would support the Latrobe economy post-industry closure.
"Latrobe has powered the state for generations. We have incredibly skilled workers, industrial capacity, direct access to the energy grid and we're ready to lead Victoria into the next era," said Latrobe City Council Mayor, Councillor Sharon Gibson.
"Without targeted Federal intervention, we risk losing private investment to more competitive settings. This is why we will be advocating for these projects not only in our Federal Budget Submission, but we'll be taking them straight to Canberra in the new year for our annual Delegation."
